Grizzlies junior Paul Reese celebrates after hauling in a touchdown pass at a passing league doubleheader against Highland Thursday at Golden Valley.

Like the first meeting on Tuesday, the Grizzlies got off to a slow start, falling behind 8-0 on a Highland touchdown pass and an interception.

“When you face a team no more than 48 hours ago, it’s hard to get up,” said Golden Valley head coach Andy Campbell. “To maintain that level of enthusiasm is tough. If that’s something we get out of summer ball, it’s a good thing.”

Golden Valley defensive back Corey Chaisson turned the tide with a great hustle play, diving for an interception on a ball thrown between two receivers.

The play seemed to energize the Grizzlies’ offense, which scored on the next possession.

“That’s what we’re trying to get into,” Campbell said. “Because we have two-way players, those defensive guys have to bring the fire to the offense.”

The Grizzlies set up the touchdown with a pair of short, quick passes to Joseph Figueroa, and they sprang him down the sideline on the next play.

The pass from quarterback Jimmy Hughes went long, but Hughes redeemed himself on the next play by lobbing a towering ball to receiver Paul Reese in the front of the end zone.

The Grizzlies’ defense continued to swarm the ball the rest of the game, with Chaisson coming close to picking off a pair of passes.Golden Valley stopped the Bulldogs on the 1-yard line on their final offensive possession.

Early in the second game, Highland hit a long touchdown pass over the middle to take the lead. Hughes responded by lobbing a beautiful throw to Reese’s outside shoulder in the left side of the end zone for a touchdown.

The Grizzlies had a momentary lead when defensive back Dylan Olson came up with a shoestring interception, but the Bulldogs drove for another touchdown and added an interception.

The two teams played with seven players per side, receiving six points for a touchdown and two for a pick.

“We were able to chalk talk a little bit,” Campbell said. “Being able to make those adjustments on the field might be better for us.”Golden Valley will now participate in the passing tournament at Hart High School, which begins at 3 p.m. today.

“Playing teams like that is invaluable,” Campbell said. “We want to get out and compete. We’re in the process of making a name for ourselves in the valley and in Southern California. We’re looking to go out and represent.”